Linux Kernel up to 6.1.109/6.4.6 bpf kernel/bpf/btf.c btf_type_id_size stack-based overflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.109/6.4.6. Affected is the function btf_type_id_size of the file kernel/bpf/btf.c of the component bpf. Executing a manipulation can lead to stack-based overflow. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2023-54247. No exploit is available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.109/6.4.6. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function btf_type_id_size of the file kernel/bpf/btf.c of the component bpf. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a stack-based overflow vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-121. A stack-based buffer overflow condition is a condition where the buffer being overwritten is allocated on the stack (i.e., is a local variable or, rarely, a parameter to a function). As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Silence a warning in btf_type_id_size() syzbot reported a warning in [1] with the following stacktrace: WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 5005 at kernel/bpf/btf.c:1988 btf_type_id_size+0x2d9/0x9d0 kernel/bpf/btf.c:1988 ... RIP: 0010:btf_type_id_size+0x2d9/0x9d0 kernel/bpf/btf.c:1988 ... Call Trace: <TASK> map_check_btf kernel/bpf/syscall.c:1024 [inline] map_create+0x1157/0x1860 kernel/bpf/syscall.c:1198 __sys_bpf+0x127f/0x5420 kernel/bpf/syscall.c:5040 __do_sys_bpf kernel/bpf/syscall.c:5162 [inline] __se_sys_bpf kernel/bpf/syscall.c:5160 [inline] __x64_sys_bpf+0x79/0xc0 kernel/bpf/syscall.c:5160 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:50 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x39/0xb0 arch/x86/entry/common.c:80 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd With the following btf [1] DECL_TAG 'a' type_id=4 component_idx=-1 [2] PTR '(anon)' type_id=0 [3] TYPE_TAG 'a' type_id=2 [4] VAR 'a' type_id=3, linkage=static and when the bpf_attr.btf_key_type_id = 1 (DECL_TAG), the following WARN_ON_ONCE in btf_type_id_size() is triggered: if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!btf_type_is_modifier(size_type) && !btf_type_is_var(size_type))) return NULL; Note that 'return NULL' is the correct behavior as we don't want a DECL_TAG type to be used as a btf_{key,value}_type_id even for the case like 'DECL_TAG -> STRUCT'. So there is no correctness issue here, we just want to silence warning. To silence the warning, I added DECL_TAG as one of kinds in btf_type_nosize() which will cause btf_type_id_size() returning NULL earlier without the warning. [1] https://lore.kernel.org/bpf/[email protected]/

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2023-54247 since 12/30/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 04/27/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.1.110 or 6.4.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 61f4bd46a03a81865aca3bcbad2f7b7032fb3160/7c4f5ab63e7962812505cbd38cc765168a223acb/e6c2f594ed961273479505b42040782820190305 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2941). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• IBM Power Hardware Management Console
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• RESF Rocky Linux
• IBM DataPower Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.109
• 6.4.0
• 6.4.1
• 6.4.2
• 6.4.3
• 6.4.4
• 6.4.5
• 6.4.6

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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